Chinese Embassy challenges ZCTU to cite specific a...

Chinese Embassy challenges ZCTU to cite specific abuse cases, not make vague accusations

Hopeful applicants at the recently held job fair where over 30 Chinese companies sought to fill over 750 vacancies

The Chinese Embassy has said that the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions should present facts in their allegations against Chinese businesses in Zimbabwe.

“The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe has noted the Press release by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions on October 25. However, it looks rather like a lame judgment in which there are only groundless accusations without any supporting facts and detailed information. The Embassy rejects such a frivolous, irresponsible and unpersuasive statement,” said the embassy in statement.

The embassy was reacting to a statement issued by ZCTU through acting president Nicholas Mazarura which alleged wholesale disregard of labour laws by Chinese-owned firms operating in the country.

"ZCTU notes with concern the continued blatant disregard of labour laws by Chinese employers across all sectors of the economy, despite concerted engagements at all levels on the matter over the years.

"We have observed serious labour violations that include torture, beatings, gender-based violence, underpayments and a host of other unfair labour practices.

“Other fundamental rights denied to employees by the Chinese were membership to trade unions or workers' committees, protection from forced labour and discrimination, fair labour standards and democracy at the workplace,” said Mazarura in his statement.

The embassy said that it has been actively involved in strengthening mechanisms to ensure compliance with Zimbabwean laws.

“The Chinese embassy has been supporting the Zimbabwean government to promote the supervision on all foreign investments in accordance with the law and the principle of equality, openness and transparency,” the statement reads.

The embassy has previously stated that it will not protect guilty companies and individuals from legal prosecution but would take a stance against blanket persecution of Chinese companies in Zimbabwe.

“It is the embassy’s consistent position that disputes involving enterprises should be addressed through legal channels rather than self-righteous moral trials by a few organisations. As a labour organisation, the ZCTU should have been committed to protecting workers’ legitimate interests and rights,” the Chinese embassy.

Allegations based on complaints from workers at Anjin Investments in Marange include poor remuneration with no figures stated to prove that labour laws have indeed been broken:

“Our wages are poor and you can’t imagine that we are working for a diamond company. You can’t compare what we are getting with what workers at the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company are getting,” is the complaint from one worker.

Anjin spokesperson Special Matarirano said the allegations were false and the company is compliant with Zimbabwean laws.

“We are paying in compliance with the diamond policy of 2019 where we are paying 60% in foreign currency and 40% in local currency,” he said.

Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Workers Union president Cosmas Sunguro said they would engage Anjin directly.

“Workers’ rights need to be protected and l am going to engage Anjin management over these labour issues,” Sunguro said.

The Chinese embassy said that the people are the ultimate judges of Chinese enterprise in Zimbabwe

“Recently Chinese enterprises successfully held two job fairs for the local job seekers, and both the number of applicants and the signing rate far exceeded expectations. These are the most convincing vote of confidence that the Zimbabwean people have cast on Chinese investments. The vast majority of Chinese companies in Zimbabwe have been operating their business in line with Zimbabwe’s laws and policies while earnestly implementing their social responsibilities and are thus welcomed by the overwhelming majority of Zimbabwean people.”